06 May 2001
Odd Things
So, I'm doing some preliminary arrangement for a canoeing trip, and thought it would be nice if my parents joined me and Callie for the festivities. We'll be camping, but there are several motels and cabins along the river where I figured my parents would be more comfy. No big deal, right? Well, I called one place last night to make reservations, and was happy when the woman told me they still had rooms for that weekend. She then told me she couldn't rent the rooms to people who weren't canoeing with them. I was a little surprised (and also wondered -- what about people who CAN'T canoe? Doesn't this somehow violate the ADA?). So she told me this again, adding "That's how we make our living." To which I mumbled something, and she told me once more "That's how we make out living." I was so stunned I just said "Whatever" and hung up.
I wish I would have had the awareness to ask, "You make your living, madam, by turning away business? That is a most peculiar business plan!" But I was too stunned. It would have been reasonable enough for her to say something like, "If you're not canoeing with our service, there will be an extra charge." Fine -- I'll pay it! I chatted with Callie about it, and I'm tempted just to call the dumb woman back and reserve a canoe (which will go unused) for my parents for that weekend, which will result in a minor additional charge that I would have been happy to pay WITHOUT reserving the canoe (which would THEN have been free for them to rent additionally, resulting in MORE revenue -- dumb woman). I'll either do that or call some other places tomorrow. I found the thing odd.
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Speaking of odd things, we were returning from grocery shopping today on Westheimer headed towards Montrose, where there are lots of interesting (for lack of a better word) shops. One of those shops is a boutique that tends to specialize in.... clothing for the transgendered. I have now seen everything. Out front, they had a transgendered mannequin, one with a female face, a masculine body, and dressed in some serious drag. I really should go back with the digital camera, but somehow I prefer the verbal description. I smiled. I like living in Montrose.
Of course, the corner of Montrose and Westheimer never disappoints. I would submit it as the strangest street corner in the entire city. In the evenings, you can count on seeing some combination of pierced people, punk people, transgendered people, and all sorts of other interesting people. In the daytime, it tends to be calmer. Today was amusing because a fairly well-dressed man was sitting at the bus stop clutching his briefcase, as if his life depended upon it, while an assortment of characters looked on. Again, another image that just cried for the digital camera. I may have to start carrying it with me around the neighborhood.
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One final odd thing: about a year ago, I was reading Robert Kaplan's provocative Empire Wilderness: Travels into America's Future. Today, I find myself crashing on the futon, nursing a headache, and watching Beavis and Butthead Do America. Maybe it's time for a Jaffo journal about my downhill slide! :)
[Posted @ 04:26 PM CST]
